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BMW R 1100GS

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Make Model

BMW R 1100GS

Year

1996

Engine

Four stroke, two cylinder horizontally opposed Boxer, 4 valves per cylinder

Capacity

1084 cc / 66.1 cu in

Bore x Stroke 99 x 70.5 mm
Cooling System Air/oil-cooled
Compression Ratio 10.3:1
Lubrication Wet sump

Induction

Bosch Motronic 2.2 with fuel cutoff when coasting

Ignition 

Electronic MA 2.2 controlled by Bosch Motronic

Battery 12V, 19 Amp
Alternator 700W
Charging System 14 V, 50 Amp
Headlamp Single H4 55/60W quartz bulb
Spark Plug Bosch, FR5 DTC
Starting Electric

Max Power

59 kW / 80 hp @ 6750 rpm  

Max Power Rear Tyre

55.4 kW / 74.3 hp @ 6600 rpm

Max Torque

97Nm / 9.9 kgf-m / 71 lb-ft / @ 5250 rpm

Clutch 180mm Dry single plate with diaphram spring

Transmission 

5 Speed 

Final Drive Shaft
Final Drive Ratio 3.0:1 (33:11)
Gear Ratio 1st 4.16 / 2nd 2.91 / 3rd 2.13 / 4th 1.74 / 5th 1.45
Frame Three piece (front and rear sections with load-bearing engine)

Front Suspension

BMW Telelever  Single gas-filled shock absorber with progressive coil spring, Preload adjustment (five steps)  

Front Wheel ravel 190 mm / 7.5 in

Rear Suspension

BMW Paralever (single-sided swinging arm) Single gas-filled shock absorber with coil spring, Preload adjustment (continuously adjustable by handwheel), Rebound damping (continuously adjustable by screw)

Rear Wheel Travel 200 mm / 7.9 in

Front Brakes

2 x ∅297mm Discs, 3 piston calipers

Rear Brakes

Single ∅250mm disc, 3 piston caliper

Front Tyre

110/80 R19

Front Wheel 2.5 x 19 inch patented cross spoke

Rear Tyre

150/70 R17

Front Wheel 4 x 17 inch patented cross spoke
Dimensions Length  2189 mm / 85.4 in
Width      920 mm / 35.9 in
Height   1366 mm / 53.7 in
Wheelbase 1509 mm / 59.4 in
Seat Height 840 mm / 33.0 in - 860 mm / 33.8 in

Dry Weight

225 kg / 496.0 lbs

Wet Weight 240 kg / 549 lbs
Ground Clearance 200 mm / 7.8 in

Fuel Capacity 

24 Liters / US 6.3 gal

Consumption Average

6.1 L/100 km / 16.4 km/l / 35.6 US mpg

Braking 60 km/h - 0

14.0 m / 46 ft

Braking 100 km/h - 0

40.5 m / 133 ft

Standing ¼ Mile  

12.5 sec / 168.2 km/h /104.5 mph

Top Speed

201.6 km/h / 125.3 mph

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On the face of it the BMW R1100GS isn’t a particularly convincing motorcycle to drop your cash on. It’s underpowered, expensive, looks ungainly and the gearbox is, frankly, poor. However, if you had to bet the house and kids on a motorcycle to get to Timbuktoo and back again (and show you a good time en route) the R1100GS would be it.

The BMW R1100GS's oil/air-cooled 1085cc Boxer twin struggles to make a genuine 70bhp at the back wheel, but that’s a figure almost equalled by the torque output. This, then, is a motorcycle for short-shifting not revving – a bike for punting you out of corners, not warp factor mph. With just five ratios the R1100GS is a bit buzzy in top, but other than a fantastical appetite for oil it's damn near unburstable.

BMW persevere with their queer paralever/telelever suspension arrangement, which basically means a wishbone and spring arrangement up front, and a centrally-slung shock and single-sided swingarm/shaft drive arrangement. Whatever, it works well, almost eliminating fork dive on braking – and what awesome brakes – sublime. ABS is worth having as it adds resale value.